Mukah Division
Divisions of Sarawak
Division Office location	Mukah
Local area government(s)	Majlis Daerah Dalat & Mukah (MDDM), Majlis Daerah Matu-Daro
Area
• Total	6,997.61 km2 (2,701.79 sq mi)
Population (2010[1])
• Total	110,543
• Density	16/km2 (41/sq mi)
Resident	Tuan Haji Saudi Bin Haji Narani
Districts	Mukah, Dalat, Daro & Matu
Sub-districts	Balingian, Oya, Igan & Belawai

Mukah Division is one of the eleven administrative divisions in Sarawak, east Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. It was established on March 1, 2002 and it has a total area of 6,997.61 square kilometers^[2].

Mukah Division contains four administrative districts: Mukah, Dalat, Mato and Daro. The total population is 110,543^[3]. The population is culturally mixed, with mostly Melanau, Malay, Iban, and Chinese predominating.

Major rivers in Mukah are Batang Mukah, Batang Oya, Batang Igan and Batang Rajang.

Development[link]

As a relatively new division in Sarawak, Mukah identifies seven core development sectors. The sectors are as follows;

• Fishery
• Agriculture
• Industry
• Tourism
• Human Resource
• Infrastructure and Info-structure
• Community Harmonious Lives (Kesejahteraan Hidup Masyarakat)

Infrastructure[link]

After a few years, the division has completed a coastal road that connects Kuala Balingian/Balingian/Mukah/Dalat/Oya/Igan/Matu/Daro. Furthermore, there are two higher education institutes in the division; UiTM Mukah campus and Mukah Polytechnic. Also, there is a coal power plant built in Matadeng, some 30 km from the Mukah town. A RM 48 million, 170 meters double-arch suspension bridge over Batang Mukah was opened to public on 16 September 2005^[4].

Mukah Polytechnic

Fishery[link]

Meanwhile, in Belawai, the fishery sector is being focused. There is Tanjung Manis Deep Sea Fishery Complex to support the sector. Tanjung Manis also connected to Sibu via Serdeng/Tanjung Manis/Bruit/Sg.Nai Road and Sibu/Bawang Assan/Serdeng Road.

The fishery industry is synonym with Mukah town too. The Melanaus are fish lovers and fish are incorporated in traditional dishes, for example umai. Mukah town even has statues of Ikan Merah(Red Snapper) and Udang(Prawn) that suggests the importance of the industry to the town and the division wholly.

Tourism[link]

Mukah offers a different tourism attraction in Sarawak. Being the only Melanau-majority town, the Melanau culture is the best that Mukah has to offer. There is a grand Kaul Festival (Pesta Kaul in Malay) held annually at Kala Dana Beach (Pantai Kala Dana in Malay) at Mukah. A park called Kala Dana Recreation Park or Site of Kaul Festival (Tapak Pesta Kaul) was built there and had recently been renovated and is now more modern. It also has an observation tower. This festival attracts many visitors from Sarawak-wide and sometimes even foreign tourists. The chief minister also attends this festival each year.

Some of the places of interest in Mukah Division are:

• Bruit National Park, Daro
• Sungai Pasin Wildlife Park, Matu
• Kampung Sok Melanau Longhouse, Matu
• Sago Farm, Dalat
• Kenyana Lake, Mukah
• Taman Tanjung Pedada, Kpg. Tanjung, Mukah
• Kala Dana Recreation Park, Mukah
• Setia Raja Boulevard Recreation Park, Mukah
• Blue Horizon Beach, Mukah
• Kampung Kuala Hilir Oya, Dalat
• Telaga Penawar Kampung Jemoreng, Matu
• Belawai Beach, Daro
• Lamin Dana (Traditional Melanau Longhouse), Mukah

Agriculture[link]

The main agricultural products are oil palm, sago, paddy, pineapple and aquaculture.

Industry[link]

In 1996, the Mukah Light Industrial Estate was established by the Mukah river, about 3 km from the Mukah town. The planned area covers 61 hectares. The other industrial estate in Mukah Division is the Tanjung Manis Timber Processing Zone developed by Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC)^[5].

References[link]

External links[link]

• Mukah Tourism

v t e Sarawak Divisions Betong Division Bintulu Division Kapit Division Kuching Division Limbang Division Miri Division Mukah Division Samarahan Division Sarikei Division Sibu Division Sri Aman Division Cities Kuching (capital) Miri Districts Belaga Bintulu Dalat Limbang Meradong Sarikei Selangau Song Sri Aman Tatau Sub-districts Sebauh Islands Bruit Island Towns Asajaya Ba'kelalan Batu Kawa Bau Beladin Betong Bintangor Bintulu Daro Dalat Debak Engkilili Julau Kanowit Kapit Kota Samarahan Lawas Limbang Lingga Lubok Antu Lundu Maludam Matu Mukah Marudi Oya Pakan Pusa Saratok Sebuyau Selangau Serian Serikin Sibu Siburan Simunjan Spaoh Sungai Tujuh Tanjung Kidurong Tatau Tebedu

v t e Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) SCORE division Bintulu Division • Kapit Division • Mukah Division • Sarikei Division • Sibu Division SCORE cities and towns Bintulu • Kapit • Mukah • Sarikei • Sibu SCORE hydroelectric dams Batang Ai Dam • Bakun Dam • Baram Dam SCORE infrastructure Sibu Airport • Lebaan Bridge

Mukah
The Batang Mukah Bridge, one of the most notable structures of Mukah. The Batang Mukah Bridge, one of the most notable structures of Mukah.
Towns of Sarawak
Mukah Location in Malaysia
Coordinates: 2°53′46″N 112°4′43″E / 2.89611°N 112.07861°E / 2.89611; 112.07861
Division Office location	Mukah
Local area government (s)	Majlis Daerah Dalat & Mukah (MDDM)
Area
• Total	7,916.33 km2 (3,056.51 sq mi)
Population (2010[1])
• Total	43,284
• Density	5.5/km2 (14/sq mi)
Resident	Tuan Haji Saudi Bin Haji Narani
Walikota	Haji Ali bin Suhaili
Nickname	The Melanau Heartland

Mukah, Sarawak, Malaysia, is a coastal town which serves as the administrative center of the Mukah District (2,536 square kilometers) in Mukah Division, Sarawak. It is located by the South China Sea, about 2.5 hours by road from the city of Sibu. Mukah is also accessible by air by MASwings from Kuching and Miri. The duration of both flights is about one hour. There are also express boats connecting the town of Dalat (about 30 kilometers from Mukah) to Sibu. The express boat trip takes approximately 2 hours.

The Setia Raja Mosque in Mukah

History[link]

Mukah is an ancient trading and fishing port, situated at the mouth of the Mukah River adjacent to the South China Sea. Historically, the town was an outpost of the Sultanate of Brunei. It became part of Sarawak in 1861. It is now the centre of Melanau culture, and the "Pesta Kaul" festival, celebrated by the local fishermen in April to appease the spirits of the sea, is one of the major events of the Melanau calendar. Just beyond the center of town is the Lamin Dana Water Village, which is a Melanau Cultural Center.

The Mukah hinterland was traditionally a major sago producing area. Of late however, most of the predominantly peat swamp areas that dominate the hinterland have been developed into oil palm plantations.

In November 1862, Rajah Mudah James Brooke rescued several civilians from the Moro Pirates after a pitched naval battle off the coast of Mukah. During the fighting, Brooke's steamer named Rainbow sank four prahus and damaged one other with cannon fire. Over 100 pirates were killed or wounded in the engagement while Brooke, and his Sarawakian followers, were mostly unscathed.^[2]

Demographics[link]

According to the National Census 2010, Mukah has a population of 43,284. However, this is the population of Mukah district not Mukah town.The majority of the people is Melanau. Other ethnicities are Chinese, Iban, Malay and others.

Education[link]

Mukah Polytechnic

There are three secondary schools in the town; SMK Three Rivers, SMK St. Patrick and SMK Mukah. There is a newly opened MRSM Mukah. Also, there is Polytechnic Mukah and a small campus of UiTM here.

Future Developments[link]

The development of the Mukah Town Extension Phase 2^[3] is on-going now. The extension includes 103 units of 3 storey shophouses and a 3 storey shopping complex(228,100 square feet). The phase 1 and phase 2 of the extension is completed. Once the shopping complex completed it will be the first and only shopping complex in Mukah and the division wholly.

Amid the State Election 2011, Abdul Taib Mahmud revealed that the state government will conduct a comprehensive master plan study on the Mukah smart town model by the end of 2011. The study would incorporate infrastructure plans including the building of railways linking Mukah with Tanjong Manis Halal Hub and Samalaju New Township in Bintulu. He also officiated at the opening of the second phase of Mukah Biotech Economic Zone, covering an area of 10 ha.^[4]

He also revealed his vision to make Mukah a smart city.

Things to Do[link]

The Lonely Planet web guide recommends 3 activities to be done while in Mukah. They are visiting Lamin Dana, the Melanau cultural center located in Kg. Tellian; visit the local market; and try the food at riverside hawker center.^[5]

An ABC is served. This ABC costs only MYR 2

The locals also recommend visitors to try a variety of ABC (Air Batu Campur) at the Medan Food Center.

Good to Know[link]

Mukah town even has statues of Ikan Merah(Red Snapper) and Udang(Prawn) that suggests the importance of the fishery industry to the town and the division wholly.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Laman Web Rasmi Majlis Daerah Dalat & Mukah
• Laman Web Rasmi Pejabat Daerah Mukah
• Laman Web Rasmi Pejabat Residen Mukah
• Mukah Polytechnic Website
• Mukah Kaul Festival on Virtual Malaysia Website
• Kaul Festival on STB website
• Mukah Pictures

v t e Sarawak Divisions Betong Division Bintulu Division Kapit Division Kuching Division Limbang Division Miri Division Mukah Division Samarahan Division Sarikei Division Sibu Division Sri Aman Division Cities Kuching (capital) Miri Districts Belaga Bintulu Dalat Limbang Meradong Sarikei Selangau Song Sri Aman Tatau Sub-districts Sebauh Islands Bruit Island Towns Asajaya Ba'kelalan Batu Kawa Bau Beladin Betong Bintangor Bintulu Daro Dalat Debak Engkilili Julau Kanowit Kapit Kota Samarahan Lawas Limbang Lingga Lubok Antu Lundu Maludam Matu Mukah Marudi Oya Pakan Pusa Saratok Sebuyau Selangau Serian Serikin Sibu Siburan Simunjan Spaoh Sungai Tujuh Tanjung Kidurong Tatau Tebedu

v t e Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) SCORE division Bintulu Division • Kapit Division • Mukah Division • Sarikei Division • Sibu Division SCORE cities and towns Bintulu • Kapit • Mukah • Sarikei • Sibu SCORE hydroelectric dams Batang Ai Dam • Bakun Dam • Baram Dam SCORE infrastructure Sibu Airport • Lebaan Bridge